Cristiano Ronaldo used to tell Manchester United teammates he looked better naked than rival Lionel Messi

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The Red Devils squad used to wind up the Portuguese superstar by saying Messi was the better player

Cristiano Ronaldo used to tell the Manchester United squad he looked better than Lionel Messi while gazing at himself NAKED.

The two superstars have been locked in a battle for supremacy for over a decade now, sharing the title of ‘Best in the World’ on multiple occasions.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Before he became the icon he was today, Ronaldo arrived at United as a scrawny but promising winger – prone to showboating.

After swapping Sporting Lisbon for Old Trafford in 2003, the teenager initially struggled to deal with the pressures of wearing the famous No.7 shirt in a world-class team.

However, his teammates eventually found an innovative method of motivating the youngster.

Former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch revealed in his new book: “Rio Ferdinand would tell us stories about how Cristiano Ronaldo would stand in front of the mirror naked, running his hand through his hair, and say, ‘Wow. I’m so beautiful!’

Humble and modest are not the words which spring to mind when one thinks of CR7

“The other United players would try to wind him up [by saying] ‘Whatever, Leo Messi is a better player than you’.”

According to the Stoke City forward, Ronaldo would simply shrug and say: “Ah yes. But Messi does not look like this…’”

After leaving the Red Devils for Real Madrid in 2009 in a world record deal, the forward reached unprecedented heights thanks to his exceptional goal-scoring record and ability to thrive in the big games.

After helping Los Blancos retain the Champions League for a third consecutive season, the 33-year-old joined Juventus for £99.2million this summer.